Valve

ABSTRACT

A valve for a fluid dispensing container includes a mounting cup to be fixed on a container, a housing to be fixed on the mounting cup and defining a channel with an inlet end and an outlet end, whereby a hollow stem is glidingly arranged in the channel. The stem is flange-free and a concentric circumferential conical sealing protrusion on the stem forms the sealing between the outer surface of the stem and the housing. When the stem passes from the open into the closed position, it enters at least partially into the housing without product being retained between the flange of the stem and the housing.

The invention concerns a valve for a fluid dispensing container comprising a mounting cup to be fixed on a container, a housing to be fixed on the mounting cup and defining a channel with an inlet end and an outlet end, whereby a hollow, essentially cylindrical stem with a radial entry hole on its lower end and an axial outlet hole on its upper end is glidingly arranged in the channel, the entry hole being open to the inside of the container when the stem is in its lower position and being inside the housing when the stem is in its higher position.

Such valves have been used for dispensing fluids of various natures, among other for dispensing one and two component polyurethane foam. The mounting cup has an annular wall terminating in an outer annular channel portion that is crimped in conventional way on the cylindrical wall of the container.

US 2015/0274404 A1 concerns a valve for a container with a grommet defining a channel with an inlet and an outlet end. The valve has a stem which is slideably arranged in the channel and the grommet includes a first part provided at the inlet end and a second part provided at the outlet end. The stem is provided with a flange at its end.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,387,977 B1 describes a dual function aerosol valve assembly with two stem valves. The first stem valve is opened to admit propellant to the nozzle upon initial depression of the actuator and the second stem valve is then opened to admit product to the nozzle.

An aerosol valve having a valve stem, a valve stem housing, a compression spring and a hard stop formed by the interaction of the valve stem and the valve stem housing is described in WO 2014/152696 A1.

When the user wishes to dispense product from the container, the valve stem is vertically depressed thus having a portion of the stem base upper surface separate from sealing the bottom surface of the housing. The product is then forced by propellant pressure in the container to flow between the separated surfaces through the valve stem to exit the container to the area where the product is applied.

The form of valves described above has been widely adopted, but it is not suitable for any kind of fluid. Heterogeneous fluids with solid particles, e.g. heterogeneous food preparations containing granular particles such as pepper sauce with grains or mustard with grains, cannot be dispensed with conventional valves of the above-mentioned type since the particles will remain blocked between the flange of the stem and the housing thereby keeping open the valve.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a valve which is also suitable for heterogeneous products, in particular heterogeneous products containing solid particles.

This objective is achieved according to the present invention in that the stem is flange-free and in that sealing means in form of a concentric circumferential sealing protrusion on the stem are provided for the sealing between the outer surface of the stem and the housing in the upper position.

The invention is based on the idea that the flange of the stem which seals the lower part of the stem in the closed position against the housing will be blocked by particles contained in the heterogeneous products. As a consequence of the blocked particles, the valve will stay open. According to the invention, a flange-free valve has been conceived, the sealing means being provided between the stem and the housing in form of a concentric circumferential conical protrusion on the stem. When the stem passes from the open (lower) position into the closed (upper) position, it enters at least partially into the housing without product being retained between the flange of the stem and the housing. No flange on the stem hinders the solid particles contained in the heterogeneous fluid to enter the stem so that fluids with particles having a diameter up to 5 mm can be dispensed. Consequently, the fluid can flow freely from the container into the stem and then outside the stem into dispensing means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, further sealing means are at least one O-ring on the stem or in the channel of the housing.

In this context, it is preferable that the sealing protrusion is made of softer material than the housing.

A further alternative consists in that the sealing means are in form of a conical circumferential surface on a part of the stem.

This conical circumferential surface of the stem which is preferably situated at the lower end of the stem seals against the channel of the housing below the entry hole of the stem.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the stem is provided with two circumferential sealing protrusions of softer material than the housing, the sealing protrusions being provided below and above the entry hole.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the stem is provided with one conical circumferential surface and with one circumferential sealing protrusion above the entry hole.

Alternatively, a circumferential O-ring can be provided in the channel sealing against the stem below the entry hole and a concentric circumferential surface of the stem.

As can be seen from these three embodiments, the sealing means can be freely combined in function of the requirements of the product to be dispensed.

It is also within the scope of the present invention that spring means are provided for pushing the stem in the higher position and actuating means being provided for pushing the stem in the lower position against the action of the spring means.

In this context, it is possible that the spring means are a helical spring arranged between the housing or the mounting cup and the upper end of the stem.

The spring means can be for example a metallic or a plastic helical spring.

Alternatively, the spring means can be an elastomeric body arranged between the housing or the mounting cup and the upper end of the stem.

Such an elastomeric body can also be used for pushing the stem into the higher position.

The valve of the present invention can be used for any kind of fluid, either homogeneous fluid or heterogeneous fluid, but is particularly suitable for heterogeneous fluids, especially heterogeneous fluids containing solid particles. Such heterogeneous fluids containing particles can be found in many fields of products, e.g. in the food sector, e.g. pepper sauce with pepper grains, mustard containing grains, etc. Such heterogeneous fluids comprise a liquid phase in which solid components are dispersed. The diameter of the stem has of course to be adapted to the size of the solid particles, if present in the fluid. For fluids with solid particles having a maximum diameter of 5 mm, such as pepper grains, the free diameter of the stem including its entries should e.g. be of at least 6 mm.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings in which

FIG. 1a, 1b and 1c represent a first embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, in the closed and in the activated position,

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c represent a second embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, in the closed and in the activated position,

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c represent a third embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, in the closed and in the activated position,

FIG. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e represent dispensing means for activating the valve of the present invention by means of a cleanable tip,

FIGS. 5a and b represent the cleanable tip.

The valve for a fluid dispensing container according the present invention comprises a mounting cup (1) to be fixed on a container (not shown) in which the product to be dispensed is contained (generally under pressure), a housing (2) to be fixed on the mounting cup (1) and defining a channel (3) with an inlet end and an outlet end, whereby a hollow, essentially cylindrical stem (4) with a radial entry hole (4 a) on its lower end and an axial outlet hole (4 b) on its upper end is glidingly arranged in the channel (3). It can be seen that the stem (4) is flange-free.

The stem (4) is provided with a circumferential protrusion (5 b) on the lower part of the stem (4). In order to achieve a good sealing, this circumferential protrusion (5 b) is preferably conical.

The entry hole (4 a) of the stem (4) is open to the inside of the container when the stem (4) is in its lower position (FIG. 1b, 2b and 3b ) and enters into the housing (2) when the stem (4) passes in its higher position (FIGS. 1c, 2c and 3c ). When the entry hole (4) has fully entered the housing, the dispensing operation is terminated.

Further sealing means (5) are provided between the outer surface of the stem (4) and the housing (2). These sealing means (5) can be e.g.:

-   -   an O-ring on the stem (4) or in the channel (3) of the housing         (2),     -   one or more circumferential sealing protrusion(s) on the stem         (4), the sealing protrusion(s) being preferentially made of         softer material than the housing (2).

Spring means (6) are provided for pushing the stem (4) in the higher position and actuating means (not shown) are provided for pushing the stem (4) in the lower position against the action of the spring means (6). The spring means can be e.g.:

-   -   a helical spring (6 a) arranged between the housing (2) or the         mounting cup (1) and the upper end of the stem (4) (FIG. 1a, 1b,         1c, 2a, 2b, 2c ) or     -   an elastomeric body (6 b) arranged between the housing (2) or         the mounting cup (1) and the upper end of the stem (4) (FIGS.         3a, 3b and 3c ).

In the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c , the stem (4) is provided with two circumferential sealing protrusions (5 a) of softer material than the housing (2), the sealing protrusions (5 a) being provided below and above the entry hole (4 a).

In all embodiments, all parts of the valve with the exception of the spring are generally made of plastic material, the plastic material being preferably selected from the group consisting of PP, PE, PET, POM and TPE. The spring can be made of metal, preferably of steel, but also of plastic material.

In the first embodiment, the cup (1) can be made e.g. of layered PET, the housing (2) of hydrel (a TPE), the ring between the housing (2) and the cup (1) of chloroprene, neoprene or TPE, the spring means (6) of stainless steel and the stem (4) of delrin (POM).

In the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c , the stem (4) is provided with one conical circumferential surface (5 b) that seals against the channel (3) of the housing (2) below the entry hole (4 a) and with one circumferential sealing protrusion (5 a) above the entry hole (4 a).

In the second embodiment, the cup (1) may be made e.g. of layered PET, the housing (2) of hydrel (a TPE), the ring between the housing (2) and the cup (1) of chloroprene, neoprene or TPE, the spring means (6) of stainless steel and the stem (4) of delrin (POM).

In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c , a circumferential flat O-ring (5 c) is provided in the channel (3) sealing against the stem (4) below the entry hole and a circumferential conical surface of the stem (4) seals against the spring means (6), an elastomeric body arranged between the housing (3) and the upper end of the stem (4).

In this embodiment, the cup (1) can be made e.g. of layered PET, the housing (2) of PP, PET or HDPE and the stem (4) of delrin (POM) or PP or PE.

The stem (4) may be reinforced by adding fibres or particles, such as glass fibres, basalt fibres or particles or wollastonite fibres or particles, to the plastic material the stem (4) is made of.

No flange hinders the solid particles contained in the heterogeneous fluid to enter the stem (4). Consequently, the fluid can flow freely from the container into the stem (4) and then out of the stem into dispensing means.

The diameter of the stem has of course to be adapted to the size of the solid particles, if present in the fluid. For fluids with solid particles having a maximum diameter of 5 mm, such as pepper grains, the free (inner) diameter of the stem (4) including its entries should e.g. be of at least 6 mm

FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e show dispensing means (8) placed on the top of the container for activating the valve of the present invention. A handle (8) which is pivotably fixed on the dispensing means (7) can be pushed towards the container in order to activate the valve.

A cleanable tip (9) in form of a tube with a flange (10) on its lower side is shown in top view and in side view in FIGS. 5a and 5b . The flange (10) is in form of a longitudinal plate.

The cleanable tip (9) has an inner diameter which corresponds essentially to the outer diameter of the stem (4) so that the tip (9) can be put onto the stem (4) as shown in FIGS. 4b and 4 c.

The handle (8) has a longitudinal clearance (11) which allows the flange (10) of the tip (9) to pass through the clearance (11) when the flange (10) of the tip (9) is aligned with the clearance (FIGS. 4b and 4d ) and which is smaller than the flange (10) of the tip (9) when it is turned from this aligned position to an unaligned position so that the flange (10) can be pushed downwards to activate the valve (FIGS. 4c and 4e ).

Consequently, the valve will only be activated if a tip (9) is placed on the top of the stem (4) and the flange (10) of the tip (9) is turned into the position in which it is non-aligned with the clearance (11) so that it the flange (10) can be pushed down by the handle (8). This allows the user to make sure that product output only occurs with a tip (9) on the stem (4) in the non-aligned position of the flange (10) and the clearance (11). By turning the tip (9) away from this activated position, it is possible to make sure that even upon pushing the handle (8) no product output occurs.

The dispensing means which are shown in FIGS. 4a to 4e in combination with the cleanable tip (9) shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b can of course also be used in connection with other valves than the valve of the present invention. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A valve for a fluid dispensing container comprising a mounting cup (1) to be fixed on a container, a housing (2) to be fixed on the mounting cup (1) and defining a channel (3) with an inlet end and an outlet end, whereby a hollow, essentially cylindrical stem (4) with a radial entry hole (4 a) on its lower end and an axial outlet hole (4 b) on its upper end is glidingly arranged in the channel (3), the entry hole (4 a) being open to the inside of the container when the stem (4) is in its lower position and being inside the housing when the stem (4) is in its higher position, wherein the stem (4) is flange-free and wherein sealing means (5 b) in form of a concentric circumferential sealing protrusion (5 b) on the stem (4) are provided for the sealing between the outer surface of the stem (4) and the housing (2), wherein: the stem (4) is provided with two circumferential sealing protrusions (5 a) of softer material than the housing (3), the sealing protrusions (5 a) being provided below and above the entry hole (4 a) or the stem (4) is provided with one circumferential surface (5 b) that seals against the channel (3) of the housing (2) below the entry hole (4 a) and with one circumferential sealing protrusion (5 a) above the entry hole (4 a) or a circumferential O-ring (5 c) is provided in the channel (3) sealing against the stem (4) below the entry hole (4 a) and a concentric circumferential surface (5 b) of the stem (4).
 12. The valve (1) according to claim 11, further comprising further sealing means comprising at least one O-ring (5 c) on the stem (4) or in the channel (3) of the housing (2).
 13. The valve according to claim 11, wherein the sealing protrusion (5 b) is made of softer material than the housing (3).
 14. The valve according to claim 11, wherein the sealing means are a conical circumferential surface (5 b) on a part of the stem (4).
 15. The valve according to claim 11, wherein spring means are provided for pushing the stem (4) in the higher position and actuating means being provided for pushing the stem (4) in the lower position against the action of the spring means.
 16. The valve according to claim 15, wherein the spring means are a helical spring (6 a) arranged between the housing (2) or the mounting cup (1) and the upper end of the stem (4).
 17. The valve means according to claim 15, wherein the spring means are an elastomeric body (6 b) arranged between the housing (2) or the mounting cup (1) and the upper end of the stem (4). 